The Oamaru Mail TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 911, 18 March 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1879.

WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NE'-V "Pit AND AGRICULTURIST.

We are seriously eonteinplating the expediency of enlarging: our sheet to rhske foon* for, the insertion of complaints against tee Telegraph Department. TVc have npvr to complain of tea Falmeraton operator" Yesterday our reporter was despatched to Palmeratcn to report the races. At ten minutes past 2 p.m. our reporter hastened to the Telegraph Office (tvo miles distant from the course) with a message of between three and four hundred words: which was intended for the country edition. A lad or about fifteen years of age was in charge of- the office, the chief operator being on the course. "When asked to send the reporter's telegram, the lad said that there was already a messnge being forwarded to. Dunedin, the transmission of which would occupy an hour and a half. Our reporter then said that he wotild t ike advantage of the " urgent" code, as it was important that the message should be transmitted without delay. The lad objected to this, saying that it was opposed to the regulations. But, said our reporter, "We are prepared to pay the extra expense —I think it'is double the ordinary rates. 1 ' The young operator, who seemed anxious to dispose of our reporter, replied that he could not transmit our message until the other was finished, under auy circumstances. Our reporter then returned to the course, having missed the Novel Itac-e thvougii his detention at the Telegraph Oirioc parleying with the operator. Seeing the manager of the office on the ground he pointed out that the Mail had suffered inconvenience and probable injury through his conduct. He replied, "These afternoon messages are a nuisance and inconvience to me." He said that he had only one wire to work with, and that the Government and Railway Department frequently took possession of it for hours at a time. It seems strange that an officer of the Telegraph Department should, on a race day—an occasion which bring 3 together a number of hungry newspaper correspondents (there were four on, the course yesterday), to feed the hiuigry public—be permitted to leave his post, li it be trite that he has only one wire, it is about time that it was supplemented by others ; but even with the one wire, had he been in the office, as he should have been, our message would have been transmitted, the Government would not have been deprived of several shillings wire charges, the public would have received the benefit to confer which the Telegraph Department lias been created, and we should not have suffered inconvenience and loss. "Afternoon messages" may be " inconvenient" and "a nuisance," but so is it an inconvenience and a nuisance to have to pay for them. \Y e think there is something here for investigation by Mr. Lemon. We have been requested by the Secretary I of the Kaitangata Relief Fund Committee Ito acknowledge the reeeipt from Mr. Alex. Mllaster o'f" LS Ss, the result of a col'.ccj tion amongst the employes on hi 3 estate in i aid of the fund.

The Rev. J. C. Andrews, formerly a resident in this district, and now principal of Nelson College and member oi' the Otago University Senate, preached in St. Lvtke : s Church on Sunday morning last. His discourse, -which was very earnest and eloquent, was listened to with additional pleasure because it was delivered by an olci friend. The opening meeting of the winter session of the St. Paul's Young Men's Association yi aa held fosfc evening in the school-room of the church. There was ;i good attendance and Ivtr. n. K. jjir.iih ccctn,ied the chair. After the aiipos;»i oi business, the iy.<i o'J'.io o- cu-. v- us . pleasantly with reading. xw-CbtiOiu, Arrangeriiciits were mauc tor trie uouiUig c. a debate at the nest weekly meeting. The people of V.'aimate are to be somplt- j mented upon the manner in which thsv have come forward in the interests oi thuse widowed and orphaned through the K:«tangata explosion. Tiie * 1-Ir--Uo v. > 1 ' L xvasTcrowded last night to listen to the miscellaneous enfce.'XiKjnsteJit vmch hsui jxsen given to a-.-isfc the i£aits>«gat:i re.:e: and the net proceeds wi!i be but little, ;r anything. loss thai) .LOO. ".ihe consisted of lo'-.d tak-nt, supplemented by Mesdamc? (Cinnear andlirunton. and Finch. Fr'aser, Brunton. and Jones. _ iwm Oamain. The entertainment gave ovuiaice of having been carefully anuiig'-d : the prime mover in the matter beiiig Mr. 3K'V. on. Xo one could complain on the score of want of variety. Tfc.-e was something in the programme to please everybody : and tr.e performers were, therefore. listened to Ti-itn attention that, we hotfr. M ?■ what modern characteristic of V. annate audiences. If that is the case, we compliment the Wainiats people—or rather a portion of them—on the iy rancement.they have made in civilisation since they last met at a similar entertainment. Last mgh'i s i audience was one of the best behavuU have yet seen in the country. .--.1. i;;-: time, it should be uaacrst'.>oJ that '-■[■ c performers, knowing, iiom past experience, I that Waimate audiences are inclined to be a j little volatile, and unpleasantly deiuo:u-.ua-tive, avoided performing any pfljw? might have the effect or _cre«tii:g _ any impatience. Vv ithout attempting to oe 1 j'-'-, we think it due io the ladies and gentlemen to whom the first part was entrusted to say that they never once had a>) opportunity of rehearsing the glees, which, in consequence, did not go so well as they could have wished, but no apology is needed in the case of the other- pieces. " Home, sweet home" was substituted for '•liTiovatore," in order to jsiiorten the firwt. parfc, and enable the aimatc Christys. whose appearance was anxiously desired, to take possession of the platform. The troupe is a good one, but it might be better, Some of its members can boast of voices tjiat might figure prominently were it not that they are yet in the rough. !Now that Professor Hawkins has settled in \\ annate, the troupe will probably receive new life and make advances towards a state of perfection. The accompaniments were played by Miss Stndholme and Mr. Finch. The former and Miss Hardy also played a duet very nicely. At the conclusion of the musical part of the performance, Mr. Stndholme proposed votes of thanks to those performers who had come from Oamaru, and to the Christys, for their kindness in having, in some instances at least, at considerable inconvenience, given them such an enjoyable entertainment for so good an object. He was delighted because the public had so liberally and spontaneously responded to the invitation of the promoters of the entertainment to assist in so charitable i work. Sir. Leonard Price, in a fey/ appropriate remarks,' Seconded the proposition. A farce concluded the performance. We-are desired by his Worship the Mayor, as Treasurer to the Ivaitangata relief fund, to acknowledge the receipt, per Mr. .John Lewis, of the following contiibiitions from the Maerewhenua district, viz.: —John Lewis, LI ; -Charles Phelps, Henry Still, Stuart Robertson, .IVmtvi Ferris, I>ent3 Hcfferaan, Thomas Hartnotf,' Brodrick. James Brodrick, ,f>awl. ea'.'h 1>)s; »i :!>>.'it; ..... .-.■-.■nt. Cornelius IMaunex, each ss. '.l\-ud, .!.<>. A*, Coil;, v : before T. V>\ Parker,. Esq., il-M., ! .it. KK

M'Cuskcr was charged with having lecn drank and disorderly on the STtli The charge was distuissed oa account; of it having happened on St. IVstriek s Dgy. He was further charged v.ith feeing an habitual drunkard. and remanded. JL l'oley v.os charged with having been drank at the Railway station, 'and was lined 20s. He was further charged With dainapnc gaol jovpertv, fur which ollectts he mulcted 10 15-. " The vc-rular wonthiy iiitetintf r.-! the Iktei'ifjl tJoiiuaitttie .will c» .am-1 tuss emumg. • ■ A Kieeiinic o? ifcu-'Council o.f-she -isTorth Ow»o Kith- Association *<vuk plarc i „''.t at tiic Royal Hotel, the J : rosideni (i.V. Be Lautotu*} presiding. There were also present—'Messrs. A. S. Orter.sou (VicefFresi-' dent); E. A. Atkinson, and 11. L. Rule. The i minutes of last meeting -having been read (and confirmed, Messrs. Henry S".ow and ' Albert K. Hardy were elected new members iof the Association. On the motion of Mr. : i!, L. Rule, tho ranges for the -March combetiuon. which takes place on Saturday, were fixed, viz., GOO, 500, and 200 yards, with live shots at each. Entries for the match -will be received up to 8 p.m. on Thursday by the Acting-Secretary, I*Jr. R. L. Rule.

Ratepayers in trie several road districts should bear in mind that in order to have their names placed upon the voters' rolls for their districts it is necessary that they should pay their rates on or before the 20th inst.